Mliswa Takes Chombo, Guzah to Court

Hurungwe West independent candidate for the June 10 by-elections Themba Mliswa has dragged the Zanu PF candidate Keith Guzah, the party and its Secretary for Administration, Dr Ignatius Chombo to the Electoral Court.

Themba Mliswa

Mliswa is accusing the party officials, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and five traditional leaders from Hurungwe West of fuelling violence and wants the court to postpone the polls.

The application gives the respondents three days to respond.

Mliswa alleges the ruling party, Dr Chombo in his personal capacity and aspiring candidate Guzah including five traditional leaders unleashed a terror campaign in the constituency in violation of the constitution and the Electoral Act.

He accuses Dr Chombo and Guzah of enlisting the services of the military whom he claims have set up bases in schools around the constituency.

He claims he has video evidence of meetings in which threats against any person who could vote for him were issued by Dr Chombo.

Mliswa also accuses the five traditional leaders of issuing similar threats to the electorate under their jurisdiction to vote for Guzah and creating their own voters roll.

Mliswa argues that there is now widespread fear among voters in Hurungwe West making a free and fair election impossible to conduct and accuses ZEC of refusing to take corrective measures against the unlawful actions of the respondents.

His application also prays for an order compelling the President to postpone the Hurungwe West by-election to a date set after ZEC certifies the electoral environment conducive for free and fair polls and for military bases set up at all schools in the constituency to be disbanded with immediate effect.

Additionally, he seeks for the circulation of a statement by Dr Chombo and traditional leaders on radio and television in Shona and English indicating that each voter has a right to vote for a candidate of his choice and go to a polling station at a time convenient to him without being accompanied by a village head.